City's Turner Prize exhibition attracts thousands

A work by Turner Prize-nominated artist Mohammed Sami is one of those on show at Cartwright Hall

Over 26,000 people have so far visited an exhibition in Bradford featuring work by the four Turner Prize finalists since it opened in September, figures have revealed.

The exhibition, at the council-run Cartwright Hall in Lister Park, is one of the key events in Bradford's City of Culture celebrations and the show runs until 22 February.

According to Bradford Council statistics, visitors to the gallery have increased by 44% since the show opened.

English flags, Korean spirits, reams of VHS video tape and apocalyptic war zones all feature in works by the artists whose installations have been on show, ahead of the winner of the Turner Prize being announced on 9 December.

Bradford Council's regeneration and environment scrutiny committee is due to be given an update next week on Bradford's Culture is Our Plan programme, which mentions some of the successes of the City of Culture celebrations.

Cartwright Hall is hosting work by the Turner Prize finalists until February

The report states: "Cartwright Hall Art Gallery, which has welcomed audiences to Turner Prize, has seen a 44% increase in attendees, with more than 39,000 visitors for exhibitions Fighting to Be Heard and I AM ME.

"The Turner Prize is currently averaging 600 visitors per day, 90% adult/10% children, based on the first 20 days of opening."

The Local Democracy Reporting Service asked Bradford 2025 organisers for the most up to date figures, and was told that as of 11 November there had been 26,000 visitors to the Turner Prize show.

Installations on display as part of the exhibition include Nnena Kalu's bizarre abstract sculptures resembling living creatures and wrapped in ribbon, tape, rope and – in some cases – the tape from discarded VHS cassettes.

Meanwhile, Zadie Xa's striking gallery reflects sea life, with each corner of the room featuring a hanging shell, each of which plays a different soundscape.

Rene Matic's gallery features sound, photography and fabric installations to explore themes of identity, relationships and political hypocrisy.

Also on show are Mohammed Sami's paintings, which mix nature and the destruction of war, and toy with the idea of memory.

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